Horten Ho 229, Gotha Go
German jet bomber

Horten Ho 229, Gotha Go

Horten Ho 229, Gotha Go
Type: German jet bomber, jet fighter-bomber and jet fighter
History: From all in WW2 used, like the Arado Ar234 Blitz, or only developed German jet bombers the Gotha Go 229 or Horten Ho 229 of the Horten brothers, well-known designers of gliders, was the boldest. Like most followers of the doctrine of reducing the flow resistance, the brothers were thinking about speed and fighter planes. Therefore, they went on to develope their Horten Ho 229 as a fighter plane with a jet engine.
The plane should be build and tested as a glider, where the Hortens had their most expertise. The flight tests took place during the year 1944, and the work on a second prototype, equpiied with two Junkers Jumo 004B jet engines, went on. With the exception of the welded steel pipes in the middle part and the engine part, it was made from wood. The outer skin consisted of plywood, except the areas around the engines, to protect them with fairing panels against fire.

It was decided to support the project of the Horten brothers with industrial resources, and so the development of the Horten Ho 229 was transfered to the Gothaer Waggonfabrik, wll known for their famous Gotha bombers in World War 1. Gotha was still active in aircraft prodiction, including military gliders and license production of aeroplanes.
The Gotha designers took some changes and built the Ho 229 as fighter-bomber. This new aircraft was named Gotha Go 229. Gotha began a series of prototypes, in addition to the bomber an all-weather fighter and a trainer, while the Horten brothers were continuing on their jet-powered prototype.
This machine, the Horten Ho IX V-2, flew a very conservative test program, and worked slowly up from the lower end of the slow-flying scale to higher speeds. Late spring of 1945 the aircraft was ready for the high-speed testing and actually reached 490 mph.
During the approach on the airfield after the test flight, however, the jet engines did not work anymore and the plane crashed and burned out. Because of the end of the war, the project was not continued.
The prototypes of the Gotha Go 299 were not ready until the end of the war, although one of them was almost as far as the factory in Germany was overrun by advancing Allied troops.